Marchers must vacate one lane of road, says SC

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday while directing both protesting parties, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) to clear one side of the Constitution Avenue observed that commuters were still facing obstacles and hardships while travelling on the road.The apex court on meanwhile resumed hearing of identical petitions filed by Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and other bar councils related to any extra-constitutional step from any authority or institution. A five member larger bench of the top court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Nasirul Mulk heard the case and during proceedings the court observed obstacles are still there and people are bracing hardships while travelling on the Constitutional Avenue.Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Nasirul Mulk remarked that the top court in its previous order had suggested the both protesting parties PAT and PTI’ lawyers to resolve the issue in consultation with the Attorney General for Pakistan and added the media reports in this regard were completely different.Justice Jawwad S Khawaja remarked though the protestors were preaching for the supremacy of law but in fact they were violating the laws and constitution, and warned the situation was heading towards anarchy and lawlessness. Justice Saqib Nisar remarked the court has no concern with the politics, and said the protestors were blocking the constitutional avenue while causing suspension of the basic rights of capital’s residents. Justice Asif Saeed Khoosa remarked the petitioners pleaded for “constitution” and not for “Constitutional Avenue”.PTI counsel Hamid Khan submitted to the top court that PTI protestors were not blocking the constitutional avenue. The court during the last five years played a vital role to resolve such problems through suo moto action and our party would welcome if such a step was taken by the court, the PTI counsel added.Ali Zafar, counsel for PAT, appeared before the top court and pleaded the protestors came here to protest against the killing of 14 workers of PAT in Model Town tragedy. The relatives of these deceased had refused to go back, he said, assuring the apex court to make the traffic flow smooth at the Constitution Avenue. Attorney General for Pakistan Salman Aslam Butt during proceedings submitted the reply from federal government regarding the protests of PTI and PAT and pleaded both the parties had refused to shift the sit-in spots despite the fact government had offered two points for protest and sit-inns.While adjourning the case hearing the apex court directed the Attorney General for Pakistan, Registrar of the Supreme Court, the petitioners Kamaran Murtaza and Ather Shah Bukhari to visit the constitution avenue with the counsels of both parties and submit the final report in the court today (Thursday). The registrar along with the SCBA president and lawyers later on visited the Constitution Avenue.